Removal of antibiotics pollutants in wastewater by UV-based advanced oxidation processes: Influence of water matrix components, processes optimization and application: A review

Abstract

The occurrence of antibiotics residue in wastewater easily enriches antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and seriously threatens the ecological environment and human health. As one of the effective tertiary treatment technologies, the ultraviolet (UV) based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been drawn more attentions due to its high efficiency, energy saving and environment-friendly characteristics. Hence, this review covers the strengths and weaknesses of UV/H2O2, UV/chlorine and UV/persulfate induced AOPs and UV/TiO2 catalyzed AOP in removing antibiotics pollutants in wastewater, focuses on the influence of wastewater matrix components, process optimization and their applications. The inorganic and organic substances in wastewaters presented a complex impact on the performance of UV-based AOPs through a series of reactions, such as reactive species scavenging and light attenuation effects. The UV-based AOPs might be optimized by selecting dominant oxidants, enhancing process parameters, adopting UV-LED as ultraviolet light sources, etc. Consequently, the modified UV-based AOPs were effective to remove antibiotics, antibiotics resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs and demonstrated great application potential and perspective for controlling the antibiotics pollutants in wastewater.